First light with my Altair IMX 183C (Tom Gray)

First light with my Altair IMX 183C

Revision title: Re-processed with Nebulosity

Given the poor UK weather and low resolution of my Meade DSI III Pro mono camera, I have been on the lookout for a value one shot colour camera for some time, and to replace my even older Meade DSI IIC; I was fortunate to receive an Altair Astro Hypercam 183C pro OSC camera for Christmas. This 20Mpx camera has more resolution than I could ever wish for, and a 'modern' Sony IMX 183C CMOS chip, with good QE, and fan cooling, adequate for our temperate climate.

The original image of M31 is my first attempt in a short window of fairly poor seeing/transparency and wind. I mounted the hypercam on my Pentax SLR zoom lens, using a modified C mount adapter/spacer (revision C) and took 2 minute unguided exposures at 70mm f4 after a rough polar alignment.

Revision B of M45 taken at 200mm f4 comprises just 10 minutes integration before high cloud obliterated the view.

Images were captured at full resolution (5440 x 3648) in Altair Capture software and processed in Startools with 50% binning (my old XP laptop ground to a halt trying to pre-process the 1x1 files @58Mb each). I cropped this image to remove the characteristic ’star burst’ amp glow.

Overall this camera has potential to make best use of our limited clear nights and provides me with a ‘dual’ rig system (mounted on my 8” SCT). I have much to learn with the new software, and need to optimise back spacing, camera gain, darks etc.

Original
B
C
Final
E

B

Title: M45 - in just 10 minutes

Description: This image of M45 comprises ~10min integration using 30-60s subs, no darks. I was surprised to see a little of the Merope ‘nebula’. Focus and alignment in the optical train are slightly off.

Uploaded: ...

C

Title: My wide field rig

Description: My old Pentax SLR lenses can be attached to the 183C using a modified CK-Pentax adapter attached to a T2 mounting ring. I can reach focus with 28mm to 210mm lenses but need to optimise backspacing.

Uploaded: ...

E

Title: Re-processed with Nebulosity

Description: The full frame image, binned 2x2 and processed in Nebulosity - the camera gain was set far too low and I have had to scale the image intensity introducing more noise and artifacts than I would have wanted. Nevertheless, I think I have been able to bring out more detail using DDP and curves.

Uploaded: ...

Camera Lens Astrophotography
Low-Cost Astrophotography
Altair Astro 183 M/C Hypercams
UK Astro-Imaging

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	Image of the day	Top pick	Top pick nominations	Total submitted
Deep sky
Solar system
Extremely wide field
Star trails
Northern lights
Noctilucent clouds
Landscape

	Image of the day	Top pick	Top pick nominations	Total submitted
Backyard
Traveller
Own remote observatory
Amateur hosting facility
Public amaeteur data
Professional, scientific grade data
Mix of multiple sources
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Unknown

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Status	Advanced success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	5383110
PixInsight job	UZBJK1MCINTO7X43UH3AB5JQFQPWTEGE
PixInsight queue size	n/a
PixInsight stage	TASK_LOG

RA (center)	00h44m48s.9
RA (top/left)	01h12m32s.8
RA (top/right)	00h24m31s.4
RA (bottom/right)	00h15m11s.4
RA (bottom/left)	01h07m49s.5

Dec (center)	+40°32′18″
Dec (top/left)	+38°08′30″
Dec (top/right)	+36°12′37″
Dec (bottom/right)	+42°29′32″
Dec (bottom/left)	+44°36′43″

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